How to answer eight difficult education interview questions
You’ve been invited to an interview by a school and so are sitting down to do your all-important preparation. You know the basic questions which are bound to come up, but have you given a thought to those trickier questions which may arise? We’ve spoken to our teachers to put together a list of some difficult questions they’ve had and how to answer them.
What are your thoughts on team-teaching?
I am sure many of you have participated in team-teaching and realize the benefits of this strategy. The interviewer who asks this question wants to discover, if you are flexible, enjoy working in a team environment, have experience in this area, and what your viewpoints are on the subject.
It is always wise to speak about some of the positive aspects of team-teaching, such as:
It is an effective strategy for teaching large groups of students. It is a method for teachers to collaborate in generating ideas … two heads is always better than one! Talk about team-teaching experiences you have had, and the positive results that transpired.
If you havent had any hands-on experience, you may explain that you enjoy working in a team setting and are excited about the possibility of participating in this approach. OR, maybe you have done some reading on the subject and can share some of the insights you gained with the interviewer … this will definitely be impressive!
Here Are a Just a Few Difficult Teaching Interview Questions and Answers
Problem interview questions that may be asked include:
Understand that interviewers are more likely to hire someone who presents him/herself well, over a candidate with extensive credentials. The safest way to answer these questions is to emphasize your strongest personal strengths, and back them up with examples that demonstrate your value to the school district.
There are many difficult questions that will be asked during the interview. Many interviews last 45 minutes or longer, so you must be prepared for a variety of interview questions. Recognizing that situations for every candidate may vary, the responses to each question will serve to provide you with some general guidelines. It is extremely important to conduct extensive research on the district or schools needs in order to respond to these tough teacher interview questions thoroughly and competently.
This philosophy is based not only on discipline, but the underlying topics that are concerned with it as well – morals, ethics, values, personal responsibility, and so forth. Though families should serve as the primary resource for instructing children about these concepts, some fail to do so or do not set a good example; thus leaving it up to formal educators to take the lead and help develop our leaders of tomorrow.
Discipline in a classroom should be fair and consistent. Students must know the rules and procedures right from day one and understand the resulting consequences for obeying and breaking the rules. The classroom must be managed in an orderly fashion, where students are able to maintain maximum focus, productivity, and learning. Discipline does not solely rest on the individual, but is also influenced by the class as a whole, as well as the atmosphere of the learning environment.
Teachers should exhibit good morals and values, display proper manners, teach right from wrong, mediate peer conflicts, employ effective and impartial listening, and show support for students and colleagues. Teachers should also emphasize following the Golden Rule, promote tolerance and compassion, and strive to help each student reach his/her full potential via strong discipline and focus.
Furthermore, it is a good idea that instructors maintain communication with parents and really encourage parental involvement within the school community, as well as promoting education in the home. If parents are more aware of what their children are learning in school and what type of behavior they should observe in the home, they are far more likely to set a good example for their children and reinforce the need to gain a solid education and develop into respectable, caring, and productive members of society.